Talking Water - Tuesday 4 August 2026
This week's contents
Operations
- Talking Water Data
Business
- Increase to Water Users Credit
- $73.5 million boost to Restoring Murray Waterways Project
- Edward River Escape concrete remediation project
- External Water Policy update
Industry
- Elevate Dairy Murray Innovator Showcase - Shepparton
- WeedSmart Week - Griffith
- Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards
- Latest NSW DCCEEW Water Allocation Statement
Community
- 'Just a Farmer' free community film screening - Tocumwal
Operational Update
Talking Water live data
Live data for Murray Irrigation water delivery, channel flow, Water Exchange temporary trade and DCCEEW water allocations is available on our Talking Water
Data webpage below.
To see the latest data for Murray system storages and rivers, including dam heights, visit the Murray Darling Basin Authority's River data page.
Additional resources
MDBA weekly report
NSW Water allocation statements
Rainfall and evaporation
Barmah Narrows trade balance
The information and data provided in Talking Water is for general reference purposes only. We take best endeavours to ensure accuracy.
Business News
Increase to Water Users Credit
As communicated recently via Customer Update and Talking Water, Murray Irrigation was able to take advantage of the supplementary water event announced by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to commence filling the Mulwala and parts of the Wakool system.
The supplementary water that was used to fill the Mulwala system has been calculated and we are pleased to announce a 3% increase to the current 5% Water Users Credit to reward water using customers.
This will equate to a 8% Water Users Credit for the season.
The Water Users Credit is automatically applied to your water allocation account daily, based on imported meter readings.
For further information, please contact the Customer Experience team on 1300 138 265 or customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au.
This Distribution Update Announcement has been published on Murray Irrigation's website (as per below), and at the BOM’s disclosure portal, in accordance with new disclosure provisions that commenced under the Water Act 2007 (Cth) on 1 July 2026.
$73.5 million boost to Restoring Murray Waterways
The Albanese Government has committed up to $73.5 million to fund the next stage of Murray Irrigation's Restoring Murray Waterways (RMW) environmental watering project across the Edward/Kolety-Wakool river system.
This next phase builds on the success of our recent pilot and is a notified Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) measure.
Read a copy of the funding announcement here.
RMW involves upgrading Murray Irrigation's gravity-fed irrigation network to enable more efficient delivery of environmental flows across 320km of creeks and 6,482ha of wetlands.
It is on track to be completed by December 2026 and is being delivered in partnership with the Australian and NSW Governments.
The above video explains how it all works.
Murray Irrigation is proud to be contributing to positive solutions in the SDLAM space through this initiative.
For more information on Restoring Murray Waterways, visit the Company's webpage below.
Edward River Escape concrete remediation works
It's been a busy couple of months for Murray Irrigation's Winter Works crews, who have been working their way through a lengthy list of maintenance and life extension works designed to preserve and improve the water delivery network.
One of this year's big ticket items has been major concrete repairs and life extension works to the Edward River Escape outfall, which is more than 70 years old.
It is the first full concrete remediation that Murray Irrigation has carried out on this iconic site since it was officially opened in 1955.
In this video, Murray Irrigation Civil Asset Manager John Pearce and Ryan Maloney of National Concrete Solutions provide interesting insight into the significant work being undertaken to restore and extend the operational life of this critical piece of infrastructure that diverts water into the Edward River to service the Wakool Irrigation District and community.
External Water Policy update
SWIOID Review - Murray Irrigation Submission
After considering the SWIOID Review Panel's Report and Draft Recommendations (pages 10-17), Murray Irrigation considered it important that the Company have a representative voice within this process. We have done this via a formal written submission, that you can read here.
Key points we have made include the following:
- Emphasising that the Snowy Scheme is linked to water availability within the southern Murray-Darling Basin.
- Some of the Panel's draft suggested changes to Snowy Scheme operations would impact irrigators and environmental water holders further downstream.
- The Panel was told by governments that there would be no consideration of recommendations that impact state water shares - as such, some recommendations would benefit from further interrogation.
We extend our thanks to Claire Miller Consulting for providing an Expert Peer Review of our submission.
Submissions to the SWIOID Review close today at 5.00pm. Details are available here.
Commonwealth Water Act Review
Murray Irrigation will also be providing a formal written submission into the review of the Commonwealth Water Act, which formally commenced with release of a Discussion Paper on 17 July.
Staff are currently closely reviewing related material, and preparing draft Company positions to inform our submission.
Murray Irrigation is also working closely with the Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG) and the National Irrigators' Council to ensure all feedback into this review process is strongly aligned.
Submissions close on Monday, 31 August. You can find out more here.
Industry News
Elevate Dairy Murray Innovator Showcase - Shepparton
Elevate Dairy is a program designed to attract and integrate innovative solutions from around the world into the dairy industry.
At this event, innovators will showcase their technologies directly to farmers, processors and industry stakeholders, providing opportunities to see the solutions up close, ask questions and discuss on-farm applications.
When:
Friday 7 August
Time:
10.00am - 2.00pm
Where: McIntosh Centre, Shepparton Showgrounds
WeedSmart Week - Griffith
Join the WeedSmart team at Griffith from 18-20 August for peer-to-peer learning about sustainable weed management and herbicide stewardship.
This event will include a forum day, machinery expo, farm tours and optional study tour.
You'll hear from farmers, agronomists and industry professionals and get to see how local growers are implementing the Big 6.
Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards.
These national awards recognise farmers, businesses and individuals who are improving water efficiency, embracing innovation and demonstrating environmental stewardship across Australian agriculture.
Winners will receive prize vouchers to contribute towards an irrigation study tour, providing the opportunity to explore emerging technologies and best practice from across the irrigation industry.
Nominations close on August 14, with finalists to be announced later this year.
Latest NSW DCCEEW Allocation Statement
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) announced yesterday (3 August) a 7% increase for NSW Murray General Security water entitlements.
This brings the allocation total for the 2026-27 season to 12%.
You can read the full announcement below.
Subscribe to DCCEEW's updates by email and download its announcements here.
Community News
'Just a Farmer' free community film screening - Tocumwal
The Southern Riverina Wellness Collaborative is bringing the award winning Australian film Just A Farmer to Tocumwal, along with its creator, Leila McDougall, for a special screening and Q&A.
This event is feee for everyone in the community to attend, offering a chance to connect, reflect, and spark life-saving conversations about resilience and hope.
